[gypsy]

I was given some globe artichokes today just as I was leaving my plot and going home. Time was short and it had started to rain so I just tucked them into the soil in a corner. Has anyone any advice as to what I should do with them, one is just leaves about 18 inches high, the other is about 3 feet high and has 3 artichokes on it about the size of a tennis ball.
CC

[DavidT]

I`d harvest the tennis balls if I were you and find a good recipe. If you`ve nowhere ready for the plants just yet they can stay "heeled in " for a while. They should be quite alright.

[gypsy]

thanks David, I was hoping someone would say that. I have a spot for them but there are some leeks there at the moment, I hope they do not mind following leeks. CC

[tode]

Make sure you plant where they've got plenty of room: they get quite big.   

[DavidT]

There`ii be no problem them following leeks, but as Tode says, they grow quite big. 

[tonybloke]

they make a fantastic wind-break!!

[DavidT]

Wind, being the operative word, tony?

[tonybloke]

definately the word if you're speaking of the jerusalem variety!!

[tode]

PS Gypsy: no good trying to cook em if they're not ready: the 'leaves have to be just starting to open, otherwise they're hard.

[Chuffy]

...and make sure they are artichokes. I bought a brace of plants from the local garden centre, spent a year and a bit nurturing them and ended up with some magnificent thistles. 
They look virtually identical to artichokes, until the heads form.

[tode]

If you let the artichokes open, they make quite spectacular flowers:

[Elcie]

lucky you to get given some!  I am thinking of growing these, mostly because they look lovely, and partly as a screen between plots.  Can I buy them in garden centres does anyone know?

[gypsy]

I have a Dobies catalogue and they sell 5 plants for £9.95, they also sell seeds so I have been lucky to get some given, I could have taken quite a lot of plants but I thought that 2 was enough for me. Thanks for your replies everyone CC

[SusieB]

I have heard it is better to plant the suckers, but I have only ever seen seedlings on sale.  So lucky you, to all the people who have been given them.

[Babstreefern]

I had some globes already in my plot.  They grow a couple of 2/3 feet high, the heads slightly higher.  They are a very light pale green.  The only problem is that you only get a 3 year harvest out of them, after that, you need to dig them up and plant some more.  I let mine grow and gave the heads to a friend who absolutely loves them.  Me, I hate the taste of them.